I prepared a lengthy response to Moshe but catkiller's is better.

On Wed, 27 Jan 1999 02:51:58, nospampls@dontdoit (catkiller) wrote:

> The scenario for app programmers may be different but for systems > programmers ...

The problem exists in all areas. No one is safe. Some here are systems maintenance jockeys, ex-operators who handle space management, restarts, etc. There is another kind of systems programmer, they have almost vanished. Most of the operating systems internals experts I've worked with are gone.

> I am personally aware of some shops who are doing almost NOTHING in > any of these areas. No names will be given. No upgrades. Nothing.

This is my understanding too. > For those shops with very old apps that have been patched many times > things could get bad. All the old geezers downsized out. New PC > weenies haven't a clue. Everyone jumping on Oracle and client/servers.

could? The question is how many of the Fortune 5,000 running the 50,000 IBM style mainframes will stay in business. > It could get real messy. Frankly I am at the point where due to > stupidity on the behalf of mgmt I could care less. The programmers are > still out here but they are not being bought on-board. The head-hunter

could? We're going to hear grown men and women crying in terror. > shops with ridiculous bill rates bear responsibility for some of this > too.

My auto mechanic bills $75/hour. The geezers at the local hardware store get $49/hour to service Briggs and Stratton engines.

cory hamasaki 338 Days, 8,135 Hours. 

-- a (a@a.a), January 27, 1999

Answers

so you see, not only are managers stupid, but they're cheap little bastards too.

-- a (a@a.a), January 27, 1999.

But, like Judas, they will find that they have sold their salvation for 30 paltry pieces of silver.

-- Hardliner (searcher@internet.com), January 27, 1999.

I have an old 79 Porcshe 911, goes in for a service once a year - the average bill is $1500 a year. Well worth it for a sweet running car.

My mechanic is German, bills at $75 an hour, and I have to book the car in about 2-3 months before he can work on it. He's a 1.5 man show - wife does the bills, friend helps him out.

This is seriously good money for - anyone - no hassle, stress free job.

I've often thought of re-training as a high-end mechanic :)

Andy

Two digits. One mechanism. The smallest mistake.

"The conveniences and comforts of humanity in general will be linked up by one mechanism, which will produce comforts and conveniences beyond human imagination. But the smallest mistake will bring the whole mechanism to a certain collapse. In this way the end of the world will be brought about."

Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan, 1922 (Sufi Prophet)

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), January 27, 1999.